The Punjab Government has launched a unique ‘Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme’ with a resolve to provide cheaper and quality technical education to the meritorious & poor students of the state. After approval from the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, this scheme was formally inaugurated jointly by the Punjab Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal and Punjab Technical Education Minister Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi here today.Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi speaking on the occasion said that all the students who are residents of Punjab and studying in government polytechnic & engineering colleges, Maharaja Ranjit Singh University, Bathinda and IKGPTU, Jalandhar would benefit from the scheme.The Technical Education Minister informed that under the scheme, the students of Punjab would get the fee waiver as per the percentage of marks obtained in Class X. He said that under the scheme 70 percent fee waiver would be for the students scoring 60 to 70 percent marks, 80 percent fee waiver for students scoring 70 to 80 percent marks, 90 percent fee waiver for students scoring 80 to 90 percent and students scoring 90 to 100 percent marks would get the full fee waiver.
The Minister further said that meritorious students hailing from poor needy sections and having domicile of Punjab could avail this facility. He said that the promise to provide quality and affordable technical education to the poor and needy students made by Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab government has been fulfilled with the implementation of ‘Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme’.Mr. Channi said that interestingly it was the previous government who always turned a blind eye to the technical education in government sector due to which admission graph went very low in government colleges. Another factor responsible for the low admissions in the government colleges was that the fee structure of private and government colleges was same. ‘Now with the implementation of ‘Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme’ it would lead to a huge boost in the admissions in a big way in government polytechnic & engineering colleges,’ added Channi.
At the same time, he said that the previous government did not focus on recruiting teachers in the polytechnic and engineering colleges, but Captain Amarinder Singh led government has already prepared a case of recruitment of teachers in government polytechnic and engineering colleges and this process would soon be completed through the Punjab Public Service Commission. ‘PHD eligibility has been made mandatory for the recruitment of the best teachers,’ added Channi.On this occasion, Mr. Channi directed the officers of the technical education department to ensure 100% admission in all the colleges and strict action should be taken against those who show laxity in doing so. He further said that 100% placement of government college students must be ensured.The Technical Education Minister said that the entire infrastructure of all government polytechnic and engineering colleges is being revamped under which building infrastructure, labs and other equipments would be upgraded and modernized.Mr. Channi further said that Biometric attendance of teachers & students and CCTV system of all colleges would be connected online with the head office of the technical education department from this academic session.Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu Secretary Technical Education, Mr. Parveen Thind Special Secretary-cum-Director Technical Education, Mr. Mohanbir Singh Sidhu Additional Director and Mrs. Daljeet Kaur Additional Director.